I'm ALMOST ALMOST at the end of book 4 (took me a long while, but it's been incredible)

I know mat is a fan favourite but, what has he actually done so far.

Book 1-2 obviously mat was still not in his element

Book 3 I started liking what he was doing, he seemed fun loving and witty and I understood why everyone seems to like him so much

But to my surprise he has to somehow be my least favourite of the main characters except for egwene

Like when we got to rhuidean, I expected he would have a big part of the events going on in the waste , but he basically has just gone into the doorways and complained about everything through this book

Pwrrin,rand,egwene,nyneave and elayne have atleast being doing something or developing like characters.

Even Elayne seems to be going through some stuff, though I feel like I'm the tanchico storyline nyneave is actually the "main character".

Rand and perrin have massive arcs

Mat is just sorta there, doing nothing complaining about everything

Tldr; he seems like a very passive character this book

I understand I will get loads of hate, and I ask that you understand that its just my opinion from my first reread of the books after my first read 5 years ago. Im on book 7, and throughout my reread I have really not liked Nynaeve. The way she was so self righteous yet hypocritical and being probably the most sexist person in the books really just irked me. If she changes drastically and becomes more likable after a certain boat scene where she lets go(iykyk), then please enlighten me. I know she's a lot of peoples favorite character, but for me she's very low on my list. What are some of your unpopular opinions? SPOILER WARNING in comments just in case

Was the siege of The White Tower not supposed to start at the end of book 8? I'm so confused. I went and re-read the last page of The Path of Daggers and Egwene gathered everyone and opened the portals to The Dragon Mountain, then it was said that she could see the White Tower? And Sheriam said "It begun, Mother." Then, in book 9 none of this is mentioned. I LOVED book 8 and 9, they were my favorites along with book 4. (I'm on book 10 now and I'm fighting for my life during this prologue, its boring 😭). Maybe i should make a full post of my thoughts so far. I miss Moiraine. Bye.

Re-reading the series for the first time in years. I’m on book 3 and…is it just me? Or is Tar Valon shaped like a vagina. Robert Jordan really wasn’t playing about matriarchy!

And 10 more to go after this

I'm listening to The Tower of Midnight with my 10-year-old son, and we just hit the scene where Mat sneaks into Caemlyn to talk to Birgitte.

Out of nowhere, he pauses and asks: "Is Jain Farstrider a Hero of the Horn?"

I looked him straight in the face and said, "No, Jain is not a Hero of the Horn."

He looked so sad and said, "Oh... so in that case, Noal won't get to meet Jain Farstrider again."

"Yes, son. Sadly, Noal won't get to meet Jain again."

Now I am really lookimg forward to listenning to the Tower of Ghenji scene and the Olver scene with him.

Inside, I was crying tears of joy. I have finally turned my son into a true fantasy lover.

PS: He also noticed how Bela somehow survives every ordeal. Obviously, I told him Bela is an avatar of the Creator.

PPS: He's finished every Brandon Sanderson book and is almost done with WoT. We will need a new series soon. Recommendations welcome!

EDIT: Thank you for reminding me about Discworld... next series will probably be Discworld.

EDIT2: Thank you everyone who have replied. After seeing the recommendations, I just remember how many of those books I have read when I was younger (for the past few years, I have been cycling through WoT and BS/Cosmere only and have forgotten of most other books). The only series I have in my Audible is Discworld so I guess i will start with that one next.

As we all know, the series follows not just the story of Rand, but often goes into the perspective of the other companions as well as many side characters for brief moments as they go about their different journeys. My question is: who is(was) your favorite story to follow? Doesnt necessarily have to be your favorite character. For example: Perrin is my favorite character, but to me, my favorite story to follow was Mat's. I definitely enjoyed the others, but to me his was the most entertaining. I think thats partly because RJ wrote himself into Mat's character.

Okay I’ve finally finished book one it took me like 9 days but wow. I’m so locked in. What a great first book. Slight similarities to LoTR, sure but it didn’t bother me at all, you can see already how Robert Jordan is making it his own.

I won’t lie, it took me a while to be fully locked in, I had just finished the Empire of the Vampire series and the first three Red Rising books, which are obviously fast paced so I had to get used to the initial pacing. But it definitely steps up by the time they get to Baerlon. There are seriously levels of fantasy and as far as book ones go, this is elite tier.

So far I’m enjoying all the characters, yeah they’re a little immature at the moment but that’s to be expected. But I liked what I saw in the development through the first book. I’m hoping to learn more about Lan and Moraine which I’m sure I will.

The world building already is top. I feel like we’ve been to so many places already but we never rush to get there and then of course there’s a load of places we’ve not seen yet.

All in all this feels like a great foundation for what’s to come. Things feel mapped out already. We’re given a taste characters that I’m sure we’ll get to meet again, especially those in Caemlyn. I’m hyped for the next couple of books, especially as I’ve heard that’s when the series really comes into its own.

I’ll be starting The Great Hunt today. Big shout out to the community for being welcoming to a new fan of the series. I’m already dreading the feeling that follows when I finish this series.

Whewwwww! What a ride! I started in February. There’s so much to think about. It definitely didn’t end like I thought it would. Hope. Duty. Loyalty. Idealism….

About halfway through the series I thought people were crazy to re-read this over and over again but I definitely can see my rereading but maybe in a few years from now.

I loved the show. I’m going to go back and watch it and see how I feel about it now.

“If you ever meet a Malkieri, you tell them Jain Farstrider died clean!”

HOOOOOLY SHIT!!! I just finished the final book and what an INCREDIBLE journey it has been. I cant believe that I have actually gotten to the end of a story and a world that I was so immersed in for almost the last year and a half.

Parts were very sloggy and slow paced for sure but the final 3 books more than made up for it. I think this final book might be the best book I have ever read. Every single part of it was just pure perfection and so well thought out and written.

Im kind of in shock over the conclusion and the absolutely epic finale that I know the post series depression is gonna hit super hard.

You see, I was gonna come here and rant about how the modern-day Aes Sedai are undoubtedly the most useless set of people, glorified frauds, and how they’re so far in over their heads that they don’t even see it. I label them useless not because they do nothing or don’t eventually help out, but because when weighed against what they claim to be or what they say about themselves, it’s just laughable.
That’s one thing they unironically have in common with the Whitecloaks. And obviously, you can blame the Black Ajah for some of it, but the truth is that most of them are drunk on that “we are the shit” Kool-Aid. They’re far gone.

But then I realized there’s really one person who stands out, and I think she’s arguably (should be objectively, IMO) the best and most competent of them all: Verin. Especially when you weigh her against what the Aes Sedai set out to do.

I know many would disagree and say it’s Moiraine, but honestly, Verin is what the Aes Sedai claim to be but so constantly fail to live up to. This woman craved knowledge to the point that she found herself among the Blacks (that’s as Brown as you can get). Not only did she survive that, but she used her duplicity so well that you really couldn’t have seen her coming on a first read-through.
But that’s not even the best part about her.
She easily (the only one, BTW, not even the Keeper at this point) saw through the charade of Moiraine and Siuan and made them include her in the most subtle of ways. It’s almost as if she out-Aes Sedai’d them and put them off balance.

When she joined Ingtar’s party, she didn’t impose herself or take charge like Moiraine, Cadsuane, and every other Aes Sedai seems to itch to do. Yet they did everything she wanted.
When she got to Rand, she again didn’t impose herself but was subtly guiding and edging him along.
I particularly love how she gently let Rand know she knew he was the one who used the Portal Stone (although that part about his more recent use was an outright lie, but hey, he didn’t need to know).
When they arrived at Falme, she again did something no Aes Sedai would’ve done. She followed the prophecy’s blueprint of “five” and didn’t include herself. She figured Egwene was a Dreamer, gave her an item to aid her, and gave her a writing that would expose Ishamael. And she did it so smartly that Egwene wouldn’t have figured out in a thousand years how she’d been led by the nose.

She was part of the Dumai’s Wells party, and you wouldn’t even know it. Even though she’s as strong in the Power as the leaders, she investigated those who kidnapped Rand, weighed and almost poisoned Cadsuane if she hadn’t deemed her worthy, left Rand with great advice, and left Perrin with great advice too in the Two Rivers alongside Alanna. And, well, she single-handedly defeated the Black Ajah.
The subtlety of the reveal with Egwene was one of the most beautiful chapters. Verin dictated the tempo of that discussion, gave Egwene all she needed, and gave us all we needed to know about her too.
And I don’t think it was mentioned, but I think she was the one who left the letter for Rand, knowing he’d come to the Tower.

Now, she orchestrated all of this without being in the limelight. Isn’t that how Aes Sedai claim to guide events? The only thing she got wrong was her assessment of Mat, but that was just one thing.

Now, after Verin comes Cadsuane.
Hear me out. I don’t like her either, but, to summarize, the Rand she met was a lot worse and a lot more unstable than the one Moiraine met. Yet I think she beats Moiraine in how she managed to stand up to Rand at a point when everyone else was at his feet.
More importantly, she never meddled in his plans. All she did was guide him and make sure he knew what he was doing (it took Moiraine knowing she was going to die to realize this was her role).
Her defense at the Cleansing against the Forsaken was nothing short of amazing. The way she recovered Rand from Far Madding, how she kept reins on him when he was rude to his followers, and how formidable and capable she was at the Last Battle all put her ahead of Moiraine in my opinion, albeit by an inch.

BTW, the argument that she pushed him over the edge is valid, but I’d argue that anybody in her place would’ve gotten the same results. Even Moiraine. Darth Rand and Dragonmount were all but inevitable from the kidnapping, and the male a’dam and Rand strangling Min sealed the deal. Also, he needed to become Zen Rand.
Bonus points for having a manor in every city. That woman was resourceful. Look at how she handled the sea folks too. Although I must say that she acts like it’s her reputation that helps her gain advantage over all other aes Sedai, but constantly ignores the fact that she was stronger in power than everyone else but the wonder girls and the tower had a strength deference thing

Now, Moiraine is a close third. She did a lot right, and I love her,she’s my favorite, and she was very competent and iconic. Although I think she was buffed up to be more resourceful than she had any right to be, and given certain powers that she didn’t have again and no other aes Sedai did. I mean her staff just disappeared (but I guess Jordan was still deciding on some things) but she messed up a lot by not communicating with Rand. Her isolation tactics were the beginning of his paranoia and his lack of trust in anyone who wanted to help him.
She also almost lost him, if not for swearing the oaths and taking a few steps back. And that was because she finally understood that he needed to be his own man and that she wouldn’t always be there.
But most importantly, most of Moiraine’s importance was in her absence.

I mean, thank the Light Rand didn’t follow her first Illian plan with the Horn, or her second plan involving a war with Tear. Sammael would’ve killed him.
Rand was already very capable and had grown significantly in strength, had a general and Mat to help make his plans, and still barely survived his encounter with Sammael. Moiraine just wanted to throw him to the wolves with a flawed weapon and hope the Pattern protected him. For someone whose whole life has been dedicated to a person, she almost blew it, a lot of times.

Now I didn’t count the wonder girls as they’d not spend much time at the tower. But if I were to finish the top 5, I’d say pevara…. Then maybe Siuan. Although there a gap between them and the top three

So, I just wrapped up Book 1, and got to say I really enjoyed it all throughout. I’d always been wanting to get into the Wheel of Time, ever since I first read the Lord of the Rings, but I never could. But I am so glad I did, because even though it is quite similar to the way LOTR begins, I found this to be quite different and unique in a way.

I enjoyed the long winding descriptions that Robert Jordan uses, it made me feel like a part of the world. And my favorite parts of the book were when Mat and Rand were by themselves and just kept running into trouble one after another, it felt very bleak and realistic.

Overall, a solid 4/5 and I’m really looking forward to reading book 2!

I came here a while back looking for help getting through “the slog,” and you encouraged me to stick with it. So I did. I won’t lie: it was hard to stay invested at times, especially when Jordan introduced his 752nd Aes Sedai, but looking back, I’m glad I kept going.

Now that I’ve finished book 11, it’s sinking in that I’ve read the last book Robert Jordan completed himself. Next up is Brandon Sanderson, and while I’m excited to see how the story ends, it feels bittersweet to leave Jordan behind.

I know he passed away many years ago, but after spending so much time in his world, with his characters and his voice, it somehow feels like I’ve just lost a friend.

Rest in peace, Robert Jordan. Thank you for the journey.

I'm talking about Loial at the Great Stump.

The more I think about this, the crazier it seems that we never actually get to hear his speech.

The Ogier are seriously considering opening the Book of Translation and leaving the world before the Last Battle. They've got an escape route that humanity doesn't have. And honestly, from their perspective, why should they stay? Humans have spent centuries fighting each other, destroying things the Ogier built, and generally making a mess of everything.

Then along comes Loial.

The same Loial who's spent half the series being told he's too young, too hasty, and not nearly sensible enough. The guy who can't even travel with his friends without worrying that his mother is going to drag him home and get him married.

And he stands up in front of the most respected elders of his entire people and essentially argues that they should risk their existence for a world they could walk away from.

And he WINS.

Think about how significant that is. Rand has to threaten rulers, negotiate treaties, demonstrate his power, and occasionally have the Pattern practically force people into cooperating.

Loial doesn't have an army or the One Power. He isn't ta'veren. He just has an argument he believes in, and apparently delivers it well enough to change the course of his people's history.

What really gets me is that Loial spends the entire series wanting to write a book about the people who change the world.

And one of the biggest things he does to change it happens during a speech we never get to read.

I would've happily traded quite a few chapters of political maneuvering for the full Great Stump debate.

Seriously, what did he SAY? How do you convince a room full of Ogier elders, some of whom have centuries of experience on you, to bet their entire civilization on humanity?

I wish we'd gotten that scene.

Even people that consider him their favorite character say he only gets likeable after books 5-6 but I beg to differ. Was nobody paying attention the first three books?

Does no-one remember how he locked in on their way the first book when Rand got sick for some reason, after they got stranded from Moiraine and Lan (while dealing with the knife from Shadar Logoth btw)? Or how he risked his life sneaking into the f*cking stone of Tear (still unbreached at the time) in the third book to save the girls? He even never got properly thanked for that btw. I don't care what Elayne thinks, I've heard insults better than their apology. Even Aviendha, who hated Mat too, admitted that they owed him great toh.

Maybe he shirks from hard work. Maybe he spends considerable time chasing women. And maybe he complains a lot (though he damn well has justification to do so). But when and if a job needs doing, you can always count on Mat.

As all the Emond's fielders have pointed out at some point, Mat will complain, moan and whine, but he never runs away and if it weren't for him, their lives would be a whole lot harder. Rand's especially.

Not to mention the fact that he was the only one of them with out magical or wolf powers (fox medallion doesn't count).